Well, after two years of being obsessed with records and stereo equipment, I finally got a McIntosh over the weekend, on Easter Sunday to be specific. :D

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/5600/dsc0098le4.jpg

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9532/dsc0123ng1.jpg

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7148/dsc0125yl6.jpg

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3645/dsc0126ix5.jpg

As you can tell, its only a 1900, but I will have tube seperates some day. I did buy it from the original owner who lived 50 miles away from the McIntosh factory in NY, who previously owned a 275 till it was stolen.
I find the sound is quite different from the Pioneer or Marantz I am used to, and like it quite a bit.
Strangely enough I also scored a MX-112 two days earlier, and have to say it sounds just as good even when using the Marantz as the amp.


I do have one question about the 1900, whenever I turn it on, there is a little bit of a thump through the speakers, and the subs kind of bounce in the frams as if they were hit by a loud 20hz signal. Is that normal?, or something going to be needing replacement?

That looks really nice. Your photos make me want to get the walnut cabinet for mine, which I didn't really want before.

Mine thumps too, I think I read somewhere that it is a common issue. I don't know how to fix it though.

Offset?

and how's the Thorens?

That looks really nice. Your photos make me want to get the walnut cabinet for mine, which I didn't really want before.

Mine thumps too, I think I read somewhere that it is a common issue. I don't know how to fix it though.


Ya, at first I didn't want to put it on since I though it looked fine without it, and it would probably get better cooling. When I did slip it in, I knew it was never comming off... except for fact i'm missing 4 screws used to secure the cab to it.

Offset?

and how's the Thorens?

Is that the DC offset I hear so much about on the Pioneer forum?
If so, I know nothing about it. So if you could enlighten me I would be very thankful.

And here is a pic of the Thorens.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/5174/dsc0101of5.jpg

It's in pretty good shape. I bought it "as is" where nothing would happen when I flipped the on switch. I thought it was a bad motor, but when I got it home and looked it over, it was just a little piece on the bottom that had frozen due to old grease. It works like a champ now, even though it does have a broken stylus, and is a little noisy.

The DC offset on my 1900 is 5mv on one channel and 11mv on the other, IIRC. Mr. Dewick said that those values were well within spec. It still thumps as it powers on.

Is that the DC offset I hear so much about on the Pioneer forum?
If so, I know nothing about it. So if you could enlighten me I would be very thankful.

And here is a pic of the Thorens.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/5174/dsc0101of5.jpg

It's in pretty good shape. I bought it "as is" where nothing would happen when I flipped the on switch. I thought it was a bad motor, but when I got it home and looked it over, it was just a little piece on the bottom that had frozen due to old grease. It works like a champ now, even though it does have a broken stylus, and is a little noisy.

Congrats! BEAUTIFUL 'table.

Now, is that an Ortofon cart/headshell on the arm? If it is....well....Ima gonna be REALLY jealous.

Congrats! BEAUTIFUL 'table.

Now, is that an Ortofon cart/headshell on the arm? If it is....well....Ima gonna be REALLY jealous.

Thanks, but don't get too jeanous.. it is a RMG-212 arm with a SPU-G/T, but the stylus is long gone :tears:

it's x-mas already!

It looks like the thump on mine is coming from the receiver itself, and not the speakers. Not sure, but that is where it seemed to come from.

I can check again later after it rests and will do it again.

Very classy pictures of a very nice piece of classic Mcintosh. Congratulations :tresbon:! Just having the boxes in the room made me feel lightheaded after "waiting" so long.

Nice! A great vintage system with that Thorens. If history is any indication, this is just your first McIntosh ... especially if you start hanging around this forum.

Alberto

Wow, you've got quite a nice setup in the making there. Congratulations.

Pay attention to the Ortofon SPU cartridge. There are rebuilders for that and will be well worth the effort. My first _real_ system back in 1974 consisted of a TD-124 along with the same cartridge - bought as a trade-in for all that new transistor gear at the time. I've spent many, many years trying to replicate the sound it produced mounted on an SME arm. The closest I've come recently is the Denon DL-103R.

As to a mounting base for the Thorens, spend some time searching and you'll find some absolutely astounding pictures of works of art some folks have produced.

Welcome to the world of Mac and Thorens....it seems they were almost made to work together.

Cheers,

David

I've had/have 2 different 1900, niether thumped in any way at turn on. All you hear is the transformer powering up, then silence. My speakers do not move at all. IIRC, there is a capacitor that delays the connection to the speakers for just that reason. It probably needs replacement. I can't recommend enough getting it serviced, I've had all mine sent to Terry Dewick and he lowered the noise floor in everything and on my MR78 and 1900 the FM is incredible, and I thought it was good before. When he worked on my first 1900 he replaced almost 20 caps, plus some other items, and with shipping it was less then $200, of course YMMV, since yours sounds fine except for the thump. Easily worth it. I think that there is a highly recommended Mac place in CA, though, which would save you on shipping..maybe someone from the west coast knows the name. Seeing as ytou have the original box, shipping is less of an issue.

Very nice 1900 and table - congratulations on the new gear.

It would be a good idea to measure the offset but I do not believe that there is an adjustment for it on the 1900. You can switch the speakers out before turning on, then switch speakers back on.

Murray

Do you have the equalizer for the speakers? They're one of Roger Russell's designs, uses an MQ-101 or MQ-102 to flatten the low end.

By the way, they're woofers, not subs.

very nice.. I have a MAC 4100 and should prob start looking for the wood cabinet after seeing yours.. thanks alot..lol..just kidding, the wood really dresses it up..
Hbar